In a recent move, China’s National Immigration Administration announced a further easing of its visa-exempt transit policy, which came into effect on 17 December 2024. Established in 2013, China’s visa-free transit system has undergone various enhancements since its inception.
By lengthening the allowable period of stay for foreign nationals and increasing the number of port-entry points as well as visa-free travel regions, the initiative aims to foster greater openness and facilitate intercultural exchanges.
The total count of accessible ports has risen from 39 to 60. They are situated in the provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, and Zhejiang. Added to the list of visa-exempt locations for transit stays are Anhui, Guizhou, Hainan, Jiangxi, and Shanxi.
Under the amended policy, eligible travellers can now spend as long as 240 hours, or ten days, in China. Previously, the length of stay had been capped at 72 or 144 hours. Nationals from 54 qualifying countries can transit through China without obtaining a visa. Among them include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
On a related front, China’s unilateral visa exemption policy has been broadened to include nationals from Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, and Romania. Each entry into China now permits a stay of up to 30 days, compared to the previous 15 days. Travellers who qualify for unilateral visa exemption can now include academic and cultural exchanges among their reasons for travel, in addition to business engagements, family visits, transit, and tourism.
